Just exactly who is Jacques Duquesne? Well, in the days of old, he was the man who took a young Clint Barton and shaped into the weapon known as Hawkeye. Today's Marvel Fans will know him as Kate Bishop's soon to be step-father in the Disney+ Hawkeye series. So, as I asked before, who is Jacques Duquesne? Well, the answer to that question is quite simple...he is the Swordsman! Let us take a look in the history of such a wonderful character in the Marvel Universe.
Jacques Duquesne grew up as a privileged youth in the French ruked nation of Siancong. As the costumed Swordsman, Duquesne, fancying himself a swashbuckling freedom fighter, helped liberate Siancong, only to learn the rebel leader Wong Chu had killed Duquesne's father. Devastated and disillusioned, Duquesne departed Siancong to seek adventure.
Eventually Duquesne, took a young runaway named Clint Barton under his wing and taught him how to use bladed weapons, while another performer, Trick Shot, taught Barton archery, at which he proved to be a master. The young Clint stumbled upon Duquesne stealing money from the carnival's paymaster to pay a gambling debt. Clint attempted to turn his mentor over to the law, but he was pursued by Duquesne and badly beaten. Before Duquesne could deliver the fatal blow, Trick Shot stepped in to save the young boy. Duquesne then fled the carnival and adopted his swordplay act to become a costumed supervillain.
Years later, the Swordsman attempted to join the Avengers (whose members included Clint Barton, now known as the superhero Hawkeye) in order to take advantage of the benefits that go with an Avenger ID. He was refused entry into the team, largely due to Hawkeye's protests and the fact he was wanted in different states, and threatened to kill Captain America after capturing him, but the rest were able to rescue him. After failing the first time around, he was eventually accepted into the Avengers. However, he was secretly an agent of the Mandarin, who had teleported him to his castle before the Avengers could capture him, and created a pseudo-image of Iron Man to recommend the Swordsman to the Avengers.
The Mandarin also fitted the Swordsman's sword with extra powers, such as firing artificial lightning bolts, though he warned the Swordsman if they were ever pointed at him they would reverse. Soon after joining the Avengers, the Swordsman revealed his true intentions and betrayed the team, planting a bomb on the control panels which could be activated by remote-control. He soon had a change of heart and betrayed the Mandarin to save the Avengers. Despite his heroics, the Swordsman left the ranks of the Avengers, knowing the Mandarin would now be against him.
The Swordsman went back to being a supervillain for hire and battled the Avengers on numerous occasions. Under Black Widow's leadership, the Swordsman teamed with the original Power Man and fought the superhero team, capturing nearly all of its members. With Power Man, he fought against Captain America as agents of the Red Skull. The Swordsman also participated in the Mandarin's attempt at world conquest, along with other villains. He later battled Captain America again, as a member of Batroc's Brigade. Along with Power Man, the Swordsman joined the supervillain group the Lethal Legion and battled the Avengers.
In his last mission, Duquesne aided the Avengers in the conflict that involved Kang's quest for the "Celestial Madonna". In order to facilitate his plans, Kang had captured the Avengers present at the time – Vision, Thor, Iron Man, Mantis, The Scarlet Witch, and their guest Agatha Harkness – but left Swordsman behind because he considered him useless. Humiliated but determined to show Kang his true worth, Swordsman tracked the captive Avengers to Kang's pyramid base in Gizeh, where he encountered Rama-Tut, Kang's chronological alter ego. With his help and the assistance of Hawkeye, who had just returned from a leave of absence, Swordsman managed to free his fellow Avengers. It was later revealed that Mantis was in fact the "Celestial Madonna". After Kang's plans were foiled and he decided not to leave the Madonna to anyone else, the Swordsman sacrificed his life by intercepting Kang's energy blast which was meant for Mantis.
Powers and Abilities
The Swordsman is an Olympic level athlete with no superhuman powers, and is a cunning strategist with phenomenal reflexes and highly adept at unarmed combat. The Swordsman is a master in the uses of bladed weapons, especially swords and knives, and his main weapon is a sword modified by the super-villain Mandarin from Makluan technology. By pressing one of the buttons on the sword's hilt, the Swordsman can project a concussive force beam, a disintegrating ray, a large jet of flame, electrical energy in a form resembling lightning, or a stream of nerve gas that induced temporary unconsciousness. He also carries various throwing knives and daggers as needed.
Publication Information
Publisher: Marvel Comics
First Appearance: The Avengers Vol. 1 #19 (Aug. 1965)
Created by Stan Lee (writer) & Don Heck (artist)
Alter Ego: Jacques Duquesne
Team Affiliations:
- Avengers
- Emissaries of Evil
- Legion of the Unliving
- Lethal Legion
- Circus of Crime
Partnerships:
- Erik Josten (Power Man)
- Black Widow
- the Mandarin
- Red Skull
Abilities:
- Olympic-Level Athlete
- Master Swordsman
- Cunning Strategist
- Highly Skilled Unarmed Combatant
- Phenomenal Reflexes
- Uses a modified sword that projects various energy beams and gases
- Carries various throwing knives and daggers
Well, there you have it! That was my post about exactly who is the Swordsman. Although Jacques role may be different from the comics to the show, one thing remains the same, with a blade in his hand...he will always be the Swordsman.
Until next time, get your READ on!
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